Half a Million Bees Killed in Netherlands Deliberate Blaze.
A Dutch beekeeper has expressed shock after his ten colonies were burned down in a park in the city of Almere, causing the loss of an approximated half a million bees.
The beekeeper stated that each hive contained a colony of 40-60,000 bees, and the thought that anyone could kill them was devastating.
"It really hurts that my 10 hives have perished," he informed local broadcaster.
Police in Almere, which sits to the northeast of Amsterdam, have appealed for witnesses after the arson attack on Tuesday evening in the city's scenic Beatrixpark. They posted images of the blaze on social media.
The Dutch government reports that more than half of the nation's 360 species of bee are at threat of dying out, as the number of bees declines around the world.
Mr Stringer explained that authorities had told him an accelerant had been employed to ignite the hives, which were placed on wooden platforms in a forested area of the garden.
Barely any of the insects made it through and he noted that he had doubt the arsonist would be apprehended.
Another apiarist Heleen Nieman stated on national radio that she had three hives and wanted to donate one of them.
For Mr Stringer, who looked after the colonies for about nine years, the incident means building a new colony in the area from scratch.
But he insists he will not give up.
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